Usually solid state devices are able to attain excellent efficiency. However, currently existing Peltier coolers and Seebeck generators have horrible efficiency -- far worse than Carnot, and also far ...

I am having some troubles in solving the following problem a professor gave us, and in my opinion I think that either there are insufficient data or the solutions are infinite.
We have a perfect gas,...

Apparently, in order to prove that an engine must be as efficient as a Carnot engine if reversible is because apparently for its efficiency in either direction:
$\eta_E \le (1-T_2/T_1)$
$\eta_R \ge (...

Given are four points in a PV-diagram: $(V_1, 3/2P_1)$ is the leftmost point, $(V_2,3/2P_1)$ is the rightmost point, $(\frac{V_1+V_2}{2},P_1)$ is the lowest point and $(\frac{V_1+V_2}{2},2P_1)$ is the ...

This is the part that allows the Carnot engine to not violate the 2nd law of thermodynamics, but, hypothetically, why can't we just adiabatically compress the working substance to get it back to State ...

Bernoulli's principle states that an increase in the kinetic energy of a fluid occurs simultaneously with a decrease in pressure for isentropic processes. What then limits us from converting all of ...

I read about the Carnot Cycle and Carnot engine where it was said that the work done by this engine is equal to the area enclosed in the PV diagram. I understood the proof and everything but I am not ...

Since the efficiency of a Carnot cycle depends on the difference between the hot and cold sides of the engine, could you put multiple heat engines in a series to maximize overall efficiency? A $3000 \,...

Here is a diagram of the system in question (adapted from the diagram on this page):
All of the work produced by the Carnot engine is used to drive the Carnot refrigerator, which is simply a Carnot ...

Whenever i have studied refrigeration cycle on books, i have found that the diagrams are always explained starting from the compressor*, then condenser then throttle and finally evaporator. I find it ...

Problem
In the Carnot cycle there are two adiabatic and two isothermal processes. This question focuses on the isothermal expansion.
In the isothermal expansion books often writes that the system is ...

Why does the Carnot cycle need two isentropic adiabatic processes to move between hot and cold reservoirs?
Surely as the only requirement for the Carnot cycle is that it is constructed out entirely ...

As an introductory physics student (independently studying before my return to official classes this summer), I am given a "proof" that the Carnot engine has the maximum efficiency possible by way of ...

If a heat engine undergoes a reversible cycle consisting of two isobaric processes and two adiabatic processes, what methodology is used to determine how much heat is absorbed or rejected by the heat ...

In this video, the professor goes through a "derivation" for entropy using the Carnot cycle, in which he establishes that entropy is a state function for that process.
However, he then continues the ...

According to Carnot's theorem, Carnot engine is the most efficient engine. I wanted to know its proof. I looked up and I found a proof on Khan Academy in which he used a reverse carnot engine to prove ...

We know that for a Carnot engine the efficiency is given by $1-(T_2/T_1)$, but why can't a real engine have $T_2=0\,{\rm K}$?
I know that the efficiency cannot be $1$, but why can't we make the heat ...

The Carnot cycle is composed of four steps: isothermal expansion, adiabatic expansion, isothermal compression and adiabatic compression.
In the case of combustion engines, we have the idealized Otto ...

I'm trying to understand how the Carnot cycle works in my learning of it. Here's what I so far believe is what is happening:
(A $\to$ B) A cylinder of gas is connected to a frictionless piston, and ...

I am learning about car basics. I found that engine is nothing but a system where heat energy is converted into up/down motion of the piston in the cylinder. Finally, this up/down motion is converted ...

I have a question about the 2nd Carnot Corollary.
According to Moran, Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics, the 2nd Carnot Corollary stated that "all reversible power cycles operating between ...

I was thinking what will happen to the standard Carnot cycle, if instead of - say - the usual cold reservoir, we adopt a smaller refrigerator, whose temperature in fact changes after the heat release ...

We are given a thermodynamic cycle of an ideal gas (but of rigid spheres) composed of a single substance which undergoes a Carnot cycle illustrated below. All processes are assumed to be reversible. ...

I'm getting stuck on where this additional energy comes to move the piston further outward/inward during adiabatic processes when the only energy changed is during isothermal processes. Can someone ...